Collaroy vs Narrabeen

Collaroy is the younger of the two, with a median age of 43 against 48 in Narrabeen. In both, most households own their home. In Collaroy, about half of homes are flats or apartments. In Narrabeen, most homes are flats or apartments and about half of households are people living alone. Collaroy is closer to the city centre: 20.9 km, against 28.4 km. On these figures, Narrabeen tends to suit people living alone and older residents.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

They split

one each way, out of the 6 things we measure here

  • Collaroy has more separate houses rather than flats (42% vs 16%)
  • Narrabeen has more childcare (6 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Collaroy leaves households under less mortgage stress (27% vs 34%)
  • Narrabeen has cheaper houses ($3,300,000 vs $3,822,500)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Collaroy leaves renters under less rental stress (25% vs 32%)
  • Narrabeen has a bigger rental market to choose from (43% vs 31%)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

They split

one each way, out of the 4 things we measure here

  • Collaroy sits closer to the CBD (20.9 km vs 28.4 km)
  • Narrabeen is more walkable (73/100 vs 60/100)

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Narrabeen

ahead on 3 of the 5 things we measure here

  • has more residents already 65 and over (31% vs 20%)
  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (84% vs 58%)
  • is more walkable (73/100 vs 60/100)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Collaroy returns a higher gross yield on houses (3.2% vs 1.8%)
  • Narrabeen returns a higher gross yield on units (4.7% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Collaroy and Narrabeen drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Collaroy Narrabeen
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Collaroy Narrabeen
Walkability 60 / 73
Collaroy — Walkability: 60/100 Narrabeen — Walkability: 73/100
Safety 66 / 60
Collaroy — Safety: 66/100 Narrabeen — Safety: 60/100
Low fire risk 100 / 47
Collaroy — Low fire risk: 100/100 Narrabeen — Low fire risk: 47/100

Demographics

Collaroy has higher household incomes ($123,344 vs $92,560); Narrabeen skews older (48 vs 43).

Collaroy Narrabeen
Population 7,944 8,255
+4% vs other
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +0.9% +0.6%
Median age 43 48
Median household income $123,344/yr
+25% vs other
 $92,560/yr
Median weekly rent $600/wk
+6% vs other
 $565/wk

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Collaroy Narrabeen
0-4 5.2% / 4.9%
Collaroy — 0-4: 5.2% Narrabeen — 0-4: 4.9%
5-14 10.0% / 7.2%
Collaroy — 5-14: 10.0% Narrabeen — 5-14: 7.2%
15-19 6.3% / 3.6%
Collaroy — 15-19: 6.3% Narrabeen — 15-19: 3.6%
20-24 5.8% / 4.3%
Collaroy — 20-24: 5.8% Narrabeen — 20-24: 4.3%
25-34 12.9% / 13.1%
Collaroy — 25-34: 12.9% Narrabeen — 25-34: 13.1%
35-44 12.3% / 12.7%
Collaroy — 35-44: 12.3% Narrabeen — 35-44: 12.7%
45-54 14.4% / 11.6%
Collaroy — 45-54: 14.4% Narrabeen — 45-54: 11.6%
55-64 13.3% / 11.5%
Collaroy — 55-64: 13.3% Narrabeen — 55-64: 11.5%
65-74 10.3% / 11.4%
Collaroy — 65-74: 10.3% Narrabeen — 65-74: 11.4%
75-84 6.3% / 10.3%
Collaroy — 75-84: 6.3% Narrabeen — 75-84: 10.3%
85+ 3.3% / 9.4%
Collaroy — 85+: 3.3% Narrabeen — 85+: 9.4%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.4%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Collaroy 35.0% lone person
Collaroy — Lone Person: 35.0% Collaroy — Couple Families: 44.0% Collaroy — One Parent Families: 14.0% Collaroy — Group Household: 4.9% Collaroy — Other Families: 2.0%
Narrabeen 54.0% lone person
Narrabeen — Lone Person: 54.0% Narrabeen — Couple Families: 27.3% Narrabeen — One Parent Families: 13.4% Narrabeen — Group Household: 4.3% Narrabeen — Other Families: 1.1%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Collaroy 30.7% renting
Collaroy — Owned Outright: 37.8% Collaroy — Mortgage: 31.5% Collaroy — Renting: 30.7%
Narrabeen 42.7% renting
Narrabeen — Owned Outright: 32.3% Narrabeen — Mortgage: 25.0% Narrabeen — Renting: 42.7%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Collaroy Narrabeen
Bachelor Degree 20.8% / 18.3%
Collaroy — Bachelor Degree: 20.8% Narrabeen — Bachelor Degree: 18.3%
Certificate III & IV 11.6% / 13.4%
Collaroy — Certificate III & IV: 11.6% Narrabeen — Certificate III & IV: 13.4%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 10.1% / 10.6%
Collaroy — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.1% Narrabeen — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 10.6%
Postgraduate Degree 6.2% / 5.3%
Collaroy — Postgraduate Degree: 6.2% Narrabeen — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.2% / 2.2%
Collaroy — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2% Narrabeen — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (20.8%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Collaroy Narrabeen
England 6.4% / 6.8%
Collaroy — England: 6.4% Narrabeen — England: 6.8%
New Zealand 2.2% / 2.0%
Collaroy — New Zealand: 2.2% Narrabeen — New Zealand: 2.0%
Brazil 1.6% / 2.2%
Collaroy — Brazil: 1.6% Narrabeen — Brazil: 2.2%
South Africa 1.2% / 1.5%
Collaroy — South Africa: 1.2% Narrabeen — South Africa: 1.5%
Italy 1.3% / 0.5%
Collaroy — Italy: 1.3% Narrabeen — Italy: 0.5%
Scotland 0.7% / 0.8%
Collaroy — Scotland: 0.7% Narrabeen — Scotland: 0.8%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.8%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Collaroy 54.0% flats / apartments
Collaroy — Flats / Apartments: 54.0% Collaroy — Houses: 41.7% Collaroy — Townhouses: 4.3%
Narrabeen 65.5% flats / apartments
Narrabeen — Flats / Apartments: 65.5% Narrabeen — Houses: 15.8% Narrabeen — Townhouses: 18.7%
Flats / Apartments Houses Townhouses

Property market

Collaroy Narrabeen
Median house price $3,822,500 $3,300,000
Median unit price $1,205,000 $1,170,000
Median land price —
same for both
Typical days to sell (houses) 32 days
from 38 sales
 30 days
from 15 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Collaroy Narrabeen
3 bed $4M / $2.55M
Collaroy — 3 bed: $4M (7 sales) Narrabeen — 3 bed: $2.55M (9 sales)

7 vs 9 sales

4 bed $3.4M / $3M
Collaroy — 4 bed: $3.4M (11 sales) Narrabeen — 4 bed: $3M (11 sales)

11 vs 11 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Collaroy Narrabeen
1 bed $838K / $852K
Collaroy — 1 bed: $838K (10 sales) Narrabeen — 1 bed: $852K (36 sales)

10 vs 36 sales

2 bed $1.2M / $1.22M
Collaroy — 2 bed: $1.2M (77 sales) Narrabeen — 2 bed: $1.22M (107 sales)

77 vs 107 sales

3 bed $3.05M / $2.54M
Collaroy — 3 bed: $3.05M (16 sales) Narrabeen — 3 bed: $2.54M (14 sales)

16 vs 14 sales

Zoning mix

Collaroy Narrabeen
Residential 52% 43%
Parks and recreation 35% 29%
Infrastructure and transport 10% 15%
Environmental 1% 9%
Commercial 1% 3%
Planning zones cover 99% of Collaroy and 100% of Narrabeen. The rest is unzoned land such as water or road reserve.
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Collaroy Narrabeen
New dwellings approved 620
across Northern Beaches
same for both
Approvals change year on year +51%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Collaroy Narrabeen
Houses 3.2%
$2,150/wk on $3.5M
 1.8%
$1,475/wk on $4.22M
Units 3.9%
$900/wk on $1.2M
 4.7%
$850/wk on $950K

Ranking within NSW

Collaroy Narrabeen
House price Higher than 95% of NSW Higher than 96% of NSW
Income Higher than 85% of NSW Higher than 59% of NSW
Schools — Higher than 15% of NSW
Walkability Higher than 84% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
Affordability Higher than 8% of NSW Higher than 3% of NSW
EV adoption Higher than 91% of NSW Higher than 90% of NSW
NBN connectivity Higher than 83% of NSW Higher than 80% of NSW
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 30% of NSW Higher than 1% of NSW
Rental yield (units) Higher than 20% of NSW Higher than 51% of NSW

Liveability

Collaroy scores higher overall (81 vs 51); Narrabeen is more walkable (73 vs 60).

Collaroy Narrabeen
Grade A B
Score 81/100 51/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
 very advantaged area
decile 9/10

Risk profile

Narrabeen carries more bushfire risk (53 vs 0).

Collaroy Narrabeen
Bushfire None
0/100
 Moderate
53/100
Crime Low
34/100
 Moderate
40/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
44/100
 Low
27/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 2
within 5 km
same for both

Schools

Collaroy Narrabeen
Inside the suburb 1 3
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 1
same for both
Rated below peers 0 1

Schools in Collaroy

  • Pittwater House Schools Independent · Combined at peers

Schools in Narrabeen

  • Narrabeen Lakes Public School Government · Primary at peers
  • St Joseph's Catholic Primary School Catholic · Primary below peers
  • St Lucy's, St Joseph's Narrabeen campus Independent · Primary · Special school

Amenities in the suburb

Collaroy Narrabeen
Supermarkets 0 1
Cafes & restaurants 15 25
Parks & reserves 9 8
Childcare 0 6
Pharmacies 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 1
same for both
Fuel stations 0 1
Beaches 0 2
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Narrabeen sits further from the CBD (28.4 km vs 20.9 km).

Collaroy Narrabeen
Walkability score 60/100 73/100
Distance to Sydney 20.9 km 28.4 km
+36% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 34 min 38 min
Public transport score 94/100
Bus
same for both
Peak arrivals per hour 208.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 163.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 1.6%
postcode 2097
 1.5%
postcode 2101
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 28
postcode 2097
 21
postcode 2101

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Collaroy Narrabeen
Worked from Home 47.3% / 45.9%
Collaroy — Worked from Home: 47.3% Narrabeen — Worked from Home: 45.9%
Car (driver) 43.9% / 45.2%
Collaroy — Car (driver): 43.9% Narrabeen — Car (driver): 45.2%
Bus 3.9% / 3.9%
Collaroy — Bus: 3.9% Narrabeen — Bus: 3.9%
Car (passenger) 2.6% / 2.0%
Collaroy — Car (passenger): 2.6% Narrabeen — Car (passenger): 2.0%
Walked Only 1.7% / 1.9%
Collaroy — Walked Only: 1.7% Narrabeen — Walked Only: 1.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (47.3%).

Setting

Collaroy Narrabeen
Elevation 22 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 3 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 509 m
950 m to a named beach
 381 m
487 m to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Collaroy Narrabeen
Connectivity score 75/100 73/100
Most common technology Hybrid fibre-coaxial Fibre to the building
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 20%
3,600 premises
 8%
5,215 premises

Climate

Collaroy Narrabeen
Annual rainfall 1,176 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) —
same for both
Winter min (Jul) —
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Collaroy Narrabeen
PM2.5 6.3 µg/m³ 5.4 µg/m³
PM10 13.8 µg/m³ 14.2 µg/m³
NO₂ 0.84 pphm 0.23 pphm

Council rates

Collaroy Narrabeen
Average residential rate $1,696/yr
same for both
Council Northern Beaches
same for both

Federal electorate

Collaroy Narrabeen
Division Mackellar
same for both
Member Sophie Scamps
same for both
Party Independent
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Collaroy Narrabeen
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $600,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Collaroy

Apartments Beach Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Transport Hub

Narrabeen

Apartments Beach Beachfront Coastal Easy Commute Middle-Ring Parks Retirees Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Collaroy

Collaroy vs Dee Why Collaroy vs Cromer Collaroy vs Collaroy Plateau

Other comparisons with Narrabeen

Narrabeen vs Cromer Narrabeen vs North Narrabeen Narrabeen vs Collaroy Plateau Narrabeen vs Elanora Heights Narrabeen vs Wheeler Heights Narrabeen vs Ingleside
Full data on Collaroy Full data on Narrabeen
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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